TN Haokip takes over as MPCC chief
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 02 2016 : MLA TN Haokip today formally took over the charge of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president.

At a hand-over, take-over ceremony held today at Congress Bhavan here, former MPCC president Gaikhangam handed over the post of MPCC president to TN Hao-kip in presence of Chief Minister O Ibobi at around 9.30 am.

MP Thangso Baite, Health Minister Phungzathang Ton-sing, Parliamentary Secre- taries, party functionaries and many of the Congress MLAs who have been vehemently demanding ministry reshuffle were present at the gathering.

Briefing media persons after taking over the charge of MPCC president, TN Haokip stated that he took over the charge of MPCC president without wasting any time as he must go to Delhi on Monday together with Chief Minister O Ibobi and Deputy Chief Minister Gai-khangam to discuss about ministry reshuffle with AICC president Sonia Gandhi and other leaders.

TN Haokip takes over as MPCC chief

Informing that he talked with the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister about ministry reshuffle, TN Haokip maintained that ministry reshuffle is a political matter.

The pressure group formed by ruling MLAs has been demanding removal of 10 Ministers and induction of 10 MLAs in the Council of Ministers.

They have been arguing that the 10 Ministers have completed preparations for the 2017 State Assembly election and 10 MLAs need to be inducted in the Council of Ministers so that they too can prepare well for the same election.

They have been asserting that this arrangement would help Congress party perform well in the election.

Since the incumbent ministry completed two years and a half, the pressure group has been demanding reshuffle.

Asking if the Chief Minister had given assurance for ministry reshuffle, TN Haokip said that he did not hear the Chief Minister's assurance.

But then the new MPCC president maintained that his comment on the matter is subject to correction.

Nonetheless, ministry reshuffle would prove advantageous to the Congress party as far the State Assembly election is concerned, he said.

However, how many Ministers would be removed and how many MLAs would be inducted in the Council of Ministers would be a prerogative of AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister O Ibobi.

As of now, no one is sure on which figure the AICC president and the Chief Minister would come to a consensus, TN Haokip added.